Piezoelectric materials are a class of materials which generate electrical potential in response to applied stress. This coupling of electrical and mechanical properties is used for various electromechanical applications. A lot of research has been going on in the field of piezo ceramic materials with an objective to enhance the piezoelectricity.

In this presentation I shall discuss how the concept of Morphotropic Phase Boundary (MPB) i.e., composition induced phase boundary in solid solutions, has been a tool not only to enhance the piezoelectric coefficient of the material but also to design a series of materials having improved electromechanical properties. I shall explain with examples of Pb-free and Pb-containing piezo ceramic systems and how the introduction of a small amount of structural heterogeneity near MPB compositions has a tremendous effect in increasing the electromechanical properties.